"I''m just an ordinary person," Allison said, an air of nonchnce in her voice.


    Ken, despite knowing full well that he had just ingested poison, remained calm.


    Hisck of anger or threats only further piqued Allison’s curiosity.


    He spoke with a frankness befitting the gravity of their situation.


    “We’re both pretty smart, so let’s just pretend none of this ever happened.


    ”


    The rain drummed steadily against the leaves, creating an almost hypnotic rhythm.


    The air grew colder and more humid.


    As she finished her sentence, Allison wrapped her jacket around her and walked over to the fire for warmth.


    Ken realized he was still wearing damp clothes, which brought back memories of their night together and stirred an uneasy feeling in him.


    “Of course, I’ll just act like nothing happened,” he muttered, his tone a mix of irritation and resignation.


    He expected her to bring up their earlier encounter, but her unfazed demeanor made him think back to the tip he’d left on the nightstand.


    Her nonchnt attitude toward the incident was infuriating.


    Ken’s expression darkened as he opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, he realized Allison had already fallen asleep, her body slumped against the stone wall.


    His sleep was restless, probably due to the adrenaline the situation had provoked or the biting cold.


    In his dreams, he relived a harrowing escape from assassins in his teens.


    Instinctively curling up, as if trapped in a nightmare, Allison soon felt a warm presence at her side.


    It wasforting and familiar, calming her frayed nerves.


    She moved closer to the warmth, her forehead rxing as she drifted into a deeper sleep.


    At dawn, the first rays of sunlight gently woke her.


    Allison opened her groggy eyes, taking in her surroundings.


    As she moved, something fell to the ground: a jacket.


    She recognized it as Ken''s.


    Ken himself sat near the mouth of the cave, his broad back shielding her from the wind.


    Allison couldn''t understand his feelings; they were a tangle of confusion.


    The rain had stopped, and as she quietly stood up to call for help, she noticed Ken''s flushed face and stopped.


    "You have a fever," she said, trying to wake him up.


    Ken, still injured and cold from the night before, had a high fever.


    Infections worried him seriously.


    “Probably,” he muttered, his voice hoarse, his skin burning to the touch as he slowly opened his eyes, revealing streaks of red in the whites.


    Allison frowned and thought about going out to get some water to cool him down.


    But before she could move, a voice echoed in the distance: it was Emanuel.


    ?There! There''s a cave! I see Allison.


    ?


    Emanuel, though older, was still as quick-witted and quick-witted as ever.


    He ran toward them, nearly tripping over the thorns in his path.


    When he finally saw Allison and Ken safe and sound, tears filled his eyes.


    “Thank goodness you’re okay! When you didn’te backst night, I immediately sent out a search party, and all we found was blood!” Emanuel’s voice wavered, relief and anger mixing in his words.


    His frustration grew as he spoke.


    “The police arrested an armed suspect, but that scum managed to escape! How can someone attack innocent people for no reason?”


    Allison remained silent, not wanting to add to Emanuel’s worries.


    Seeing him discreetly wiping away his tears, she quickly changed the subject.


    “I’m sorry.


    I’ve lost all the bamboo shoots you worked so hard to dry.


    ”


    Ken immediately took responsibility, his tone serious.


    “This is my fault.


    I got Allison into this.


    I’ll fix it…”


    “Forget it, wheel boy!” Emanuel interrupted, pulling them both into a tight hug, his eyes brimming with tears at the sight of their injuries.


    “Forget about the bamboo shoots.


    I’m just thankful you’re alive.


    ”